The Beach Boys The Smile Sessions

Impressions: Here. Here's a whole box of toys. Some are broken. Most don't quite match. I'm going to spill it out on this table and you can try to enjoy it, or better yet, figure it out yourself. Maybe if this Beach Boys … Continue Reading ››

The Modern Lovers Modern Lovers

Impressions: Proto-punk, proto-New Wave, proto-Talking Heads (with an actual future-Talking Head on keyboards)...but solid, simple...sounds perfect. Velvet Underground meets Punk or something. Again, weird I never really got into this album when I was younger. With the organ like in "Astral Plane", sometimes they sounds even Doors like, but swap Jonathan Richman's nerdy … Continue Reading ››

Talking Heads More Songs About Buildings And Food

Release Date: 1978
Previously Owned: Yes
First Time Listen: No

This album cover is made up entirely of smaller Polaroid photos. By Source, Fair use, Link

Impressions: Okay, now here is a second album! Not to mention one of my favorite album covers and album titles of all time. In some ways, More Songs About Buildings and Food really more like their actual debut. Talking Heads 77 was slightly … Continue Reading ››

The Who, A Quick One

Impressions: The Who's second album. When it comes to the Who, I probably respect them more than I enjoy them. Let's go...."Run Run Run" okay, but smells a little like the second album lull. "Boris the Spider" is pretty nutty and, of course, being a John Entwistle song, bass heavy. So, I guess everyone in the band wrote songs? Even … Continue Reading ››

Bob Dylan, Love and Theft

Impressions: Another late-career Dylan entry. Okay, let's get through this... Bluesy, rockabilly opener. His craggy, nasal vocal style doesn't really appeal to me, but this sounds lighter and looser already. Unpretentious production. Something about "Mississippi" snuck up on me: he's older and been through some stuff and it seems lived in with lyrics like "I'm … Continue Reading ››

Steely Dan, Pretzel Logic

Impressions: Holy crow, it's been a while since my last update! Let's Pretzel...The Dan seems kind of polarizing, so I'll just say up front that I'm a big fan. I've mostly heard their songs broken up by a mix or as a part of Citizen Steely Dan boxed set. So we'll see how these songs work … Continue Reading ››